Non-Executive Director - Ebor Academy Trust

Ebor Academy Trust

Non-executive director/ Trustee role

Could you be an Academy Ambassador in York? Ebor Academy Trust seeks two non-executives/directors with skills in either law or finance, to join its board.

The Academy Ambassadors programme brings the expertise of the business world onto boards at multi-academy trusts (MATs) throughout the country to raise standards of education and improve the life chances of young people, which is critical to our social and economic success. These are volunteer roles.

The opportunity

Ebor Academy Trust was established in 2013 to support a school in York that had been failing for some time and less than three years after it joined, the school was rated Good by Ofsted. This rating validated the trust’s approaches and systems and was the foundation for school improvement activity which continues to this day.

The trust has grown and now comprises 23 primary schools and an 11-16 secondary school. With 24 academies, Ebor is one of the region’s largest trusts providing for around 6,000 pupils and managing a budget of almost £47m. The primaries include Hob Moor Oaks which is a school for children with a range of complex special educational need as well as some with physical disabilities.

The trust comprises a mix of community and church schools with strong links to York St John University and the Diocese of York. 

The schools within Ebor Academy Trust have varied and diverse backgrounds, including small village schools, large urban schools, schools in challenging circumstances and those which have the capacity to support others. The trust’s schools operate in geographic hubs in York, Selby, on the Yorkshire coast and in East Riding and the Humber.

The board seeks two business leaders with expertise in

• legal/compliance or
• finance/accountancy

As a key member of the board you will support the trust in achieving the following over the next 12 – 24 months:

1. Maintain the positive ethos of the trust through times of change, with a focus on the provision of a high quality education for all children and young people. Responding effectively to the issues around Covid19 pandemic across the trust’s 24 schools
2. Strategically plan for the next 5 years in conjunction with a relatively new executive team.
3. To ensure all levels of management and governance are working effectively and symbiotically.

What’s involved?

The board meets five times a year; once to plan the next 12-24 months, followed by termly board meetings (autumn, spring, and summer) followed by a review and evaluation meeting before the summer break.

Board and sub-committee meetings tend to start at 6 or 6.30pm and last for up to 2 hours. Overall trustees are expected to commit around 6 hours per month (on average) which will include the reading of papers, etc ahead of meetings.

You will be responsible for:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
• Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff; and
• Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent

As an Academy Ambassador, you will join our ambassador network which provides resources, guidance, networking events and webinars to support you in your role. All roles are pro bono.

What next? Please register your interest now to be considered for the role.  A full trust specification is available here:  https://www.academyambassadors.org/board-opportunities/ebor-academy-trust-0. Please be aware the closing date may change if we have received sufficient applications.